Ohio man accused of hiding in ex-girlfriend’s trunk, crawling out, and kidnapping her at gunpoint

HARRISON, Ohio (TCD) -- A 40-year-old man allegedly hid in a woman’s trunk last week, crawled out as she drove, and attacked and kidnapped her at gunpoint.

According to WXIX-TV, Jarrod Rodriguez climbed into the trunk of the victim’s unlocked vehicle when it was parked on North Jefferson Street. Rodriguez then allegedly crawled to the passenger seat as the victim drove onto I-74.

The affidavit obtained by WXIX says Rodriguez "struck the victim with a closed fist in the right side of her face, made the victim believe he was going to kill her by pulling a black handgun and a knife out of his backpack, putting the gun to the victim’s right side of her body and telling her she 'had two hours to change his mind.'"

The affidavit goes on to say, "He then ordered her to drive faster and told her where to go, all while holding the gun to her side. Mr. Rodriguez then told her he would shoot her up with enough heroin to make her overdose."

The victim was reportedly able to escape and walk to a gas station on Rybolt Road. According to WXIX, Rodriguez then drove off in the victim’s car.

WKRC-TV reports that multiple witnesses reported the incident to authorities.

Rodriguez is allegedly the victim’s ex-boyfriend, and the two broke up a few months prior. She was reportedly going to file a restraining order against him the day of the alleged attack.

According to records, Rodriguez was booked into the Hamilton County Jail on Thursday, Jan. 27, with bond set at $250,000. He was charged with aggravated armed robbery, kidnapping, assault, and aggravated menacing. Rodriguez is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 7.

According to WXIX, in 2018, Rodriguez was arrested for domestic violence in Hamilton County for allegedly pushing his wife and the mother of his four children into a wall. WXIX reports that the charge was dropped a few months later, as a witness didn’t appear in court to testify. Rodriguez was also reportedly charged last year with misdemeanor drug possession (methamphetamine) and receiving stolen property, but both charges were dismissed or ignored.

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